Finding the hidden gate to exaltation has to do with maneuvering our way through the opposites and imbalances of life. In our present state of existence there are two primary spheres. One is mortality or the physical world in which we live. The other is immortality or the hidden spirit world where we go when we die. Neither is heaven, both are still lost and fallen. The goal is not the Spirit world, it is the resurrection. It is this true heaven found through the resurrection which should be the goal found only through the straights or narrow gate.

Consider the following quote attributed to Jesus from the Gnostic “Mystery of the Crucifixion”,

” there are three different entities, all of whom are called mankind. There are those who are trapped in physical existence. These eat and sleep. They drink wine and promiscuously engage in sexual intercourse. They act according to instinct, doing whatever pleases their bodies, and whatever does not please their bodies they abstain from doing. They are no different from any other kind of animal. Their bodies become their gods, governing their decisions and their deeds. These form the vast majority of mankind.
6. “Separate from these is a much smaller group which is trapped in mental existence. These have the capacity to be human, although they may never develop that capacity. They govern their choices by their mental processes. They are reasonable and logical, but they cannot rise above the limitations of mortal mind. They act according to rational thinking, doing whatever pleases their minds, and whatever does not please their minds they abstain from doing. Their minds become their gods, governing their decisions and their deeds. These are the servants of the demiurge, who maintain that their way of thinking is right and all others are wrong. They are so convinced of their self-righteousness that they cannot perceive the Sun of Righteousness when it shines right before them.
7. “The smallest group of all consists of those who live on a spiritual plane. These transcend the limitations of mortal existence. They join the angels and rise to dwell among the Eloheim while they are still in mortality. These are not trapped by their bodies or their minds, for they bring body and mind into subjection to the Light within them so that they are transformed into the Divine image. These put on the mind [heart] of Christ. They become the Father and the Son, the Son submitting to the Father in every situation.
8. “As long as you remain in mortality,’ he continued, ‘you will not be able to discern who is in what group, for they grow as tares among wheat…
“

It would seem to me that this second group that is trapped in mental existence are individuals living or trapped in the Spirit World or Astral Plane. You might say they are the type of folks who live in “their own little world”. They seem out of touch with the here and now of earth life. They are the philosophers. But just as those trapped in physical existence they are unbalanced. The true gateway is not through extremes; it is not through mastery of physical existence or mastery of mental existence, it is through a balance of the two on the narrow path. One might say physical existence is like faith, mental existence is like hope, and the narrow true path in the middle is Charity or love.

I think this same distinction is seen in the Hindu caste system. In the top two caste’s you have the priestly caste and the warrior caste. The Brahmans or priestly caste being individuals more expert in the mental plane and the Kshatriyas or warriors being more expert in physical existence. The bottom two caste also seeing this distinction. The Shudras or physical labor class and the more mentally active businessmen and salesmen of the Vaishyas caste. I also thing this same distinction is found in the Chakra system, with the energy centers below the heart being more controlling of physical existence and those above the heart controlling mental existence, with the divine sacred heart making the straight and narrow path between them.

I think I definitely have trouble finding this balance. For periods I will become trapped inside myself, over-activating my mental existence, philosophizing and studying the extents of God and reality to the point of losing charity by ignoring my family and loved ones. At other times I will get lost in my physical existence becoming obsessed or overly-concerned with money, remodeling, my job, or other purely physical or mortal activities that I once again drift from the narrow path of charity by ignoring the nurturing of my relationships and neglecting all selfless acts of kindness that express the charity within.

I think of what Charity or love really is…

“45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—
47 But acharity is the pure blove of Christ, and it endureth cforever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.45 And acharity suffereth long, and is bkind, and cenvieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily dprovoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—
47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

When you think about Oahspe’s doctrine of exaltation, which is that the key to resurrection is the selfish working together of groups toward a goal of bettering humanity, I can see how Charity is the true way to do this. On one extreme you have the uselessness of religion and philosophy of constant preaching & teaching but very little doing in bettering the world. On the other you have the rogue individuals seeking only their own physical pleasures, but once again doing little to raise the state of humanity. In the middle you have those who truly love and this is shown by their constant service to humanity. Not just to their spouse or family or church but to humanity. And this is what brings the true inner piece of the ying and yang. The true exaltation of a Christian… but it is so hard to find.

So is there a secret? Perhaps a key could be to focus each day on performing selfless acts of kindness and service. Perhaps kindness in service is the key to manifesting true love.